Automatic takeup mechanism



Dec. 1, 1953 w. T.1-ucKs EIAL 2,661,161

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2'7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q M/VEA/TORS W 7.' HICKS D. L WATERS ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 Filed Sept. 27, 1951 W. T. HICKS ET AL.

AUTOMATIC TAKEUP MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/Vl ENTORS W 7.' H/C'KS D. I! WATERS ATTORNEY W. T. HICKS EI'AL AUTOMATIC TAKEUP MECHANISM Dec. 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 2'7, 1951 9 ml A/ "/27 INVENTORS n. T. HICKS 0. M WATERS ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 w. T HICKS EI'AL 2,661,161

AUTOMATIC TAKEUP MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5

INVENTORS M. T HICKS 0. L WATERS AT TORNEV Patented Dec. 1, 1.953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC TAKEUP MECHANISM Application September 27, 1951, Serial No. 248,602

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to continuous take-up apparatus for material and more particularly to continuous take-up apparatus for insulated wire.

In the manufacture of insulated wire for the communication arts, the take-up mechanisms in most instances require stopping of the machines to cut the wires, remove filled reels, insert empty reels and start the new leading ends of the wires on the empty reels. In certain instances, these steps in the method of manufacturing insulated wires have been aided considerably by a double support for reels so that an empty reel may be readily moved manually into the filling position, while the filled reel is moved into a position for subsequent removal from the machine. However, it has been necessary to stop the machine in order to out the wire and transfer the new leading end of the wire to the empty reel. This procedure has been satisfactory with various types of insulating material wherein the stopping of od, the scraping of wire due to defective insulation or the interruption of the tubing or extrusion operation, will be eliminated. Furthermore,

with automatic cutting means necessary for a I continuous take-up, successive reels may be supplied with like lengths of insulated wire to be formed into a cable without the customary splices for short length and scraping of long lengths as in the past.

An object of the present invention is to provide a take-up mechanism which is simple in structure, continuous in operation and highly efiicient for taking up continuously advancing material.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand including a support with spaced reel supporting units mounted for rotation about an axis intermittently to locate the reel supporting units successively at a filling position. In this apparatus, empty reels moving down a ram are controlled to locate them singly in a loading position where the successive reel supporting units pick up the empty reels and move This method of inthem in successive stages relative toward, and eventually into, the filling position. Each reel supporting unit has a power means to drive its reel, the power means in the present embodiment of the invention being an electric motor energized in advance of reaching the filling posi tion, during its stay at the filling position and for a given length of time after leavin the filling position. Furthermore, each reel supporting 'unit is provided with a fixed position cutter and an element rotatable with the reel, both the cutter and element being positioned out of the normal distributing paths of the strand but adapted to cause cutting of the strand and winding of the new leading end of the strand about an empty reel, moved into the filling position, whenever the strand is moved into general alignment with the cutter and element. A ramp is provided to receive the filled reels after a mechanism has been operated to cause the supporting unit for the filled reel to open, releasing the reel for movement down the ramp.

Other objects and advantages will be apparant from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a view of the other side of the apparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

4 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the reel supporting units and its operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the end of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram illustrating the com trol circuits for the apparatus.

The present embodiment of the apparatus includes a suitable frame I!) for supporting a conventional distributor element Ii carrying spaced pins [2 to straddle a strand of insulated wire 14 to distribute the strand on reels at a filling position. The distributing element and its reciprocating mechanism are not shown in detail as any suitable distributing mechanism may be employed for this purpose.

At the inner portions of its sides, the frame l0 supports annular. tracks l5 which have V- shaped peripheries It to support grooved rollers 11. The rollers I! are rotatably supported by pinions I8 mounted at spaced positions on a main support or turret 28. In this embodiment of the invention, the support 20 is hexagonal in general contour to provide supporting surfaces 2| for six reel supporting units indicated generally at 22.

The reel supporting units are identical in structure and a description of one will apply equally well to all six units. Attention is therefore directed to Fig. 3 which illustrates one of the units as having a bracket 25 mounted on the surface 2| and supporting bearings 26 for a hollow shaft 21. The shaft 21 has a pulley 28 mounted on its outer end, the pulley being driven by belts 29 from its motor 30. A solid shaft 3| extends through the hollow shaft 21 and has a longitudinal groove 30 therein to receive akey 33 of the shaft 2'! to permit axial movement of the shaft 3| relative to the shaft 21 and to connect the shafts for rotation one with the other. One end of the shaft 3| carries a bearing supported collar 35 connected to a yoke 36 through pins 31, carried by the yoke and positioned to ride in an annular groove 38 of the collar 35. The yoke 36 is a part of an actuating lever 40 fixed to a shaft 4| which is journalled in a hearing bracket 42 mounted on the surface 2|. Another lever 43, having its upper end mounted on the shaft 4|, extends downwardly through an aperture 44 in the support 20. A spring 45 having one end connected at 43 to the bracket 45, has its other end connected at 41 to the lever 40 to normally urge the levers 40 and 43 together with the shaft 3| intothe positions shown in Fig. 3.

The other end of the shaft 3| is provided with a cone center 50 to enter the adjacent end of the hub of a reel. A transfer element 53 mounted on the inner end of the shaft 3| carries a spring press pin 54 positioned to enter an aperture in the adjacent head of the reel to form a positive driving connection between the reel and the shaft 3|. The transfer element 53 has its. outer end extending around the adjacent head of the reel and provided with a groove 55 adapted to receive and grip the strand l4, should the strand be moved out of its conventional distributing paths.

A cone center 51 to enter the other end of the hub of the reel 5| and to complete the supporting means for the reel, is carried by lever 58 pivotally supported at 59 and having a portion 60 extending through an aperture 6| of the support 20. A spring press plunger 62 supported by the under surface of the support 20 normally urges the lever 58 clockwise into the solid line reel supporting position shown in Fig. 3.

A brake mechanism is provided for each reel supporting unit. The brake mechanism shown in Fig. 3 includes a brake shoe 65 pivotally supported at 66 at one end thereof, while a push rod 61 has its upper end connected at 68 short of the opposite end of the brake shoe 65. The push rod 61 has its lower end connected at 69 to a bell crank lever pivotally supported at 1| by a bracket 12 mounted on the under surface of the support 20. A spring 13 interposed between a bracket 14 and the lever 10 normally holds the brake shoe 65 away from the reel 5|. A rod 15, having one end connected to the adjacent arm of the lever 10 at l6,is guided in an aperture 11 in the bracket 14 to maintain its outer end in a given position to be actuated by means hereinafter described.

A transfer arm Bil pivotally supported at 81 in: termediate its ends extends through an aperture B2 in the support 20 to have its lower. or inner end connected at 83 to a rod 84. A spring 85 normally urges the rod 84 t0 the right 1 4 mally hold the arm 80 out of the distributin paths of the strand.

The mechanisms for operating the cone centers 50 and 51 into the broken line positions shown in Fig. 3, to discharge a filled reel and to receive an empty reel, include sets of air cylinders 86 and 81 disposed at the unloading and loading positions hereinafter described. The air cylinders 86 and 81 have plungers 88 and 89 positioned to engage and actuate their respective levers 43 and 60. The air cylinders are, in the present embodiment of the invention, mounted in apertures of the tracks l5 and connected in air lines (not shown) under the control of solenoid valves hereinafter described. An air cylinder 90, disposed. at the unloading position, has a plunger 9| positioned to engage the rod 15 to actuate the brake moving it against the filled reel to stop rotation of the reel prior to its entering the unloading position. Another air cylinder 93 is mounted at the filling position with its plunger adapted to move the rod 84 to rotate the ram about its pivot to cause the upper portion of the arm to traverse the distributing paths of the wire.

Each reel supporting unit 22 carries a series of brushes 96 included in the electrical circuits of their respective motors 30. These brushes are positioned to move into contact with primary contact strips 91 and secondary contact strips 93 as shown in Fig. 2. The positions of the contact strips arev such that the circuits to the motors 30 are completed to energize the motors prior to reaching the filling position, keep them energized during their stay in the filling position and continue energization of the motors at the position beyond the filling position.

The unloading position is indicated at I00 where a ramp |0| is positioned to receive the filled reels when released by the reel supporting units. A cup-shaped receiving end I02 is hinged to the ramp permitting a reel to move past the unloading position if anything should occur to prevent releasing the reel. A photoelectric cell I03 is supported by the frame In and included in a circuit with indicating means to indicate whether or not the filled reel is released from the reel supporting unit at the unloading position.

The loading position I05 disposed adjacent the bottom of the apparatus includes a ramp I66 for a supply of empty reels 5|. A hinged portion [01 at the lower end of the ramp, serves to locate a reel in general alignment with the cone centers 50 and 5'! of the reel supporting units. A photoelectric cell |08 supported by the frame I0 is in cluded in an electric circuit with indicating means to indicate the presence of an empty reel at the loading position.

A mechanism is provided to control all the empty reels by controlling particularly the first and second reels of the supply on the ramp I06. This means includes an arm H0 carried by a lever pivotally supported at H2 and under the control of an air cylinder I I4, capable of mov ing the lever into and out of holding position. An arm ||6 carried by a lever ||1 pivoted at I I2 is under the control of an air cylinder l8 capable of moving the arm into and out of holding position relative to the second reel in the supply. The air cylinders H4 and H8 are operated in a given sequence, under the control of solenoid operated valves, so that after the reel at the loading position has been mounted in the adjacent reel supporting unit and moved free of the ramp H16, the first reel of the supply will be released by lifting the arm H0, after which the arm will be lowered to receive the next reel released through the raising of the arm I I 6, which has held all of the other reels of the supply against advancement until the first reel has been released to roll into the loading position.

Each reel supporting unit is equipped with a cutter I I and a wrapping element 53, which with the arm 80, constitutes the subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 247,524, filed September 20, 1951.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, attention is directed to the wiring diagram which may be more readily explained by following the successive steps of the operation of the apparatus. The supply lines H9 for the motor circuit are connected to the primary contact strips 91 so that while the brushes 36 of any mo tor engage the primary contact strips, the mo tor will be energized. The machine includes two footage counters I and I2I, referred to hereinafter as the primary and secondary counters. The primary counter is included in a circuit with the top winding of a relay I22 to complete a circuit from a main supply line I23 through the top winding to the other supply line I24 when a given number of feet have been wound on the reel at the filling position. Energization of the top winding of the relay I22 will actuate its contact I25 to complete a circuit through the top Winding I26 of a solenoid valve I21. The solenoid valve I21 functions to operate an air cylinder of an indexing mechanism, not shown, this mechanism being the subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 247,524, filed September 20, 1951. The switch shown adjacent the primary footage counter may be actuated during the initial loading of the apparatus with empty reels to index the support 20. A finger I28 movable with the ram of the indexing air cylinder, is positioned to actuate a limit switch I29. It should be understood that the primary footage counter I20 closes its circuit through the top winding of the relay I22 only for a short interval of time sufficient for the indexing mechanism to operate. Once the turret or support 20 has been moved its given distance, the circuit through the top winding of the relay I22 will be open, yet the contact I25 will remain in position to keep the circuit through the top winding I26 of the solenoid valve I2! closed until the bottom winding of the relay I22 is energized through the closing of the switch I23 to return the contact I25 to the position shown in Fig. 5. At this time, the lower winding I30 of the solenoid valve I21 will be energized to cause the air cylinder to return the indexing mechanism to its normal position.

The secondary footage counter I 2! is set to close a circuit through the top winding of a relay I32 when the reel recently moved from the filling position has been filled with the desired amount of wire. Energization of the top winding of the relay I32 will operate its contact I33 to complete a circuit through the top winding [34 of a solenoid valve I35. The energization of the solenoid valve will cause operation of the air cylinder 93, Fig. 2, tomove the arm 60 from its position in Fig. 3 about its pivot 8| to move the strand or wire I 4, regardless of its distributed path, into general alignment with the adjacent cutter H5 and transfer element 53. While the wire is in this position, it will be received in the groove 55 in the transfer element, forced past the cutter I I5 to cut the wire leaving the trailing end to wind up on the filled reel, and winding the 6. new leading end about the empty reel previously moved into the filling position. A limit switch I36, positioned to be operated by the arm 30 or its actuating mechanism after completing its movement across the distributing paths of the wire is operated to complete a circuit through the bottom winding of the relay I32 to return the contact I33 to its normal position shown in Fig. 5 to complete a circuit through the bottom winding I 39 of the solenoid valve I to return the air cylinder to its normal position. The secondary footage counter I2I closes the circuit through the top winding of the relay I32 and retains this condition a length of time sufiicient for the operation of the arm 80 by energizing the top winding prior to the energization of the bottom winding through the closing of the limit switch I36.

When the reel is moved from the filling position to the next position, a timing unit I40 is energized through the operation of the contact I33 during energization of the top winding of the relay I 32. .Energization of the timing unit I40 will operate its contact I4I to close a circuit through a relay I42 to close its bottom contacts to complete a circuit from the supply lines I I9 to the motor whose brushes contact the secondary contact strips 98. This motor circuit remains closed for a given length of time determined by the setting of the timing unit I40.

During energization of the relay I42 its top contact is operated to open a circuit to the top winding of a relay I44 and close a circuit to a timing unit I45. In timing-in the contact I45 is operated to close a circuit through the bottom winding of the relay I 44 operating its contact to complete a circuit through the bottom winding I4! of a solenoid valve I48 to operate the air cylinder 90, Fig. 3, to move the brake 65 into engagement with the filled reel. The brake is applied for a given length of time determined by the setting of the timing unit i l-5 and when this unit times-out, which is subsequent to the timing out of the unit I40 and the de-energization of the relay I42 and the bottom winding of the relay I44, the top winding of the relay I44 is energized to return its contact to the normal position to de-energize the bottom winding I4! of the solenoid valve I48 and. energize the top winding I43 thereof. This operation returns the brake 65 to its normal position.

The timing unit 445 also controls the operation of a relay I52 for the unloading and loading mechanisms. Normally, the bottom winding of this relay is energized, energizing the bottom windings of solenoid valves 53, I56, i and I55. The solenoid valves I53 and I54 are in air lines to the air cylinders 36 and 8! at the unloadin position, while the solenoid valves I55 and 156 are in air lines to the air cylinders and 8? at the loading position. Therefore, the air cylinders and 81 are supplied with air under pressure to hold the plungers 88 and 39 normally out of the paths of the levers 43 and 55 until given time intervals controlled by the timing unit M5 when the solenoids I53 to inclusive, will have their bottom windings ole-energized and their top windings energized through the opera tion of the contact during energization of the bottom winding of the relay I52. Therefore, a filled reel will be released at the unloading position and a reel supporting unit opened to receive an empty reel at the loading position.

During energization of the top windings of solenoid valves I53 to I56, inclusive, for the normal functions ofxthe unloading and'loading means, circuits are completed through lamps I60 and IGI disposed at the opposite side of the support 20 from their light sensitive elements I53 and I08 at the unloading position I and the loading position I05. The light sensitive elements I03 and I08 are provided with a 110 volt direct current supply from a transformer I63. The lamps I60 and IEI are under the control of the timing units so that they will be energized only during certain intervals of the intermittent operating cycles of the apparatus. In other words, the lamp I60 is energized after the filled reel has moved into the unloading position and the top winding of the relay I52 has been energized to complete circuits through the top windings of the solenoid valves I53 to I56, inclusive. During this interval of time, before the timing unit I45 times-out and after the completion of the time required for unloading the filled reel,

a circuit through the normally closed bottom contact of a relay I64 will be completed through a visual signal I05 and an audible signal !55 if the relay I60 is not energized to open this circuit. This occurs when a filled reel fails to leave the unloading position. If the filled reel has been released successfully from the reel supporting unit at the unloading position and rolled down the ramp IOI, the light ray from the lamp I50 will have actuated the'element I03 to complete a circuit through the relay I64 to energize it, operating its contacts to open the circuit through the signals I65 and IE6 prior to the timing out of the unit I45. However, if a reel should be jammed or otherwise fail to leave the reel supporting unit at the unloading position during the interval of rest of the support 20, the filled reel at this position, will interrupt the light ray from the lamp I60 preventing its action on the element I03 and as a result, the relay I64 will not be energized allowing its bottom contact to complete a circuit through the signals warning the operator so that the filled reel may be removed manually at the unloading position.

The loading mechanism is so arranged that during the interval of rest after a reel has been received by the reel supporting unit at the loading position and moved to the next position, the leading reel of the supply will be released through operation of the air cylinder II I, Fig. 2, to raise the arm IIO through the rocking of the lever I I I. The air cylinder H4 is under the control of a solenoid valve I68, the bottom winding of which is normally closed through the energization of the bottom winding of a relay I69. The bottom winding of the relay I 59 is in a circuit completed through the energization of the bottom winding of the relay IM. However, the top winding of the relay I69 is in a circuit under the control of the contact I33 of the relay I3-2, the circuit of which is completed by the energization of the top winding of the relay I32 as a result of the operation of the secondary footage counter I2I. As a result of these circuit elements, the moment the secondary footage counter operates to complete the circuit of the top winding of the relay I32, the top winding of the relay I60 is energized operating the contact to complete circuit through the top winding of the solenoid valve 68 to operate the air cylinder II4 to release the leading empty reel so that it may roll down the ramp I06 to the loading position I05.

A relay I10 has its top winding included in the circuit controlling the bottom winding of the relay I69, so that the air cylinder II8 will move its lever II1 upwardly while the air cylinder H4 is moved downwardly moving-the arm H0 into'position to stop the next leading'reel of the supply when released by the arm IIB. Energization of the top winding of the relay I10 will operate its contact to energize the top winding of a solenoid valve I1I, controlling the air cylinder H8. The bottom winding of the relay I10 is under the control of the timing unit I45 causing operation of the relay contact to open the circuit to the top winding of the solenoid valve HI and close the circuit to the bottom winding thereof, resulting in the operation of the air cylinder II8 to move the arm IIB downwardly to hold the reels of the supply on the ramp back of the first or leading reel. The bottom winding of the relay I10 is also under the control of the normally open top contact of the relay I64 to hold the reels of the supply on the ramp during disturbance in the unloadin of a filled reel.

The lamp I6I is in a circuit under the control of the timing unit I45 so that it will be illuminated during an interval of time when an empty reel should be located at the loading position ready to be received during the next intermittent movement of the support 20. If there should be an empty reel at the loading position, this empty reel will interrupt the ray of light from the lamp I 6| to the light sensitive element I08. However, if there should be no empty reel at the loading position during this interval of time when the lamp is energized, the ray of light directed to the element I08 will cause the element to function to complete a circuit through a relay I14 causing it, when energized, to close its contact I15 to complete a circuit through a visual signal I16 and an audible signal I11. The signal circuits for the loading and unloading positions include locking relays I 18 and I19 so that once the disturbing condition exists at either the loading or unloading position, the signals will remain energized until the operator recognizes the condition, at which time switches I and I8I may be actuated to open the signal circuits.

After the apparatus has been provided with a supply of empty reels on the ramp I06 and in the various stations from the loading position to the filling position and after the leading end of the strand or insulated wire is tied to the reel at the filling position, the apparatus may be set in motion. The reel at the filling position is driven through the energization of its motor to wind the wire on the reel during the actuation of the distributor II to uniformly distribute a strand on the reel. This operation continues until a pre-determined number of feet of wire has been wound on the reel determined by the primary footage counter I20. At that time, the indexing mechanism is set in motion to index the support one position, moving the substantially filled reel to the next position and bringing an empty reel to the filling position. When the desired number of feet of wire has been wound on the reel, determined by the secondary footage counter I2I, this winding operation continuing after the indexing of the support, the air cylinder 93 is operated to move the arm 80 to transfer the wire regardless of its distributing path into general alignment with cutter I I5 and the transfer arm 53 at the filling position. As a result-oi this operation, the wire will'be severed allowing the trailing end from the cut portion to wind onto the filled reel while the transfer arm 53. having received the wire in the notch 55 thereof, will wind the new leading end of the wire about theempty reel at the filling position. Subsequent to this operation, the air cylinder 90 will be operated to actuate the brake 65 moving it into engagement with the filled reel to stop rotation thereof. The motor 30 at this position has been de-energized allowing the brake 65 to function to stop the reel prior to its movement into the unloading position. These operations continue through the intermittent moving and rest periods of the support providing a continuous take-up for the wire or strand material, depositing the filled reels on the ramp l! and successively picking up empty reels at the loading position.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a. strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel sup porting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of reels and rotatably support the reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, means to supply empty reels to a loading position, and means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position.

2. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of reels and rotatably support the reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, means to supply empty reels to a loading position, and means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position, indicating means, and means energizable by the absence of a reel at the loading position to operate the indicating means.

3. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of reels and rotatably support the reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, a ramp for a supply of empty reels extending to a loading position adjacent the support whereby the reels may roll singly to the loading position, means to hold the leading reel of the supply against forward movement and operable to release the leading reel after the reel at the loading position has been removed from the ramp, and means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position.

4. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably supmittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, a ramp for a supply of empty reels extending to a loading positionadjacent the support whereby the reels may roll singly to the loading position, means to hold the leading reel of the supply against forward movement and operable to release the leading'reel after the reel at the loading position has been removed from the ramp, means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position, and a swingable member disposed at the lower end of the ramp to locate the reels singly at the loading position and movable by the reels as they are moved with the supporting units during intermittent rotation of the support.

5. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, a ramp for a supply of empty reels extending to a loading position adjacent the support whereby the reels may roll singly to the loading position, a first holding element, normally holding the first reel of the supply during the presence of the reel in the loading position, actuable to free the said first reel alter the reel at the loading position is removed from the ramp, a second holding element, normally holding the second and other following reels of the supply against advancement, actuable to release its reel subsequent to the first holding element returning to its normal position after releasing the said first reel, and means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position.

6. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatablysupport the reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, means to supply empty reels to a loading position, and means energizable to operate the reel supporting units adjacent'the loading position to cause their centers to enter the hubs and rotatably support the reels singly at the loading position, and a photo-electric cell, in a circuit with energizable indicating means, energizable to indicate the absence of a reel at the loading position. 7

'7. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions about the support and including sets of centers normally urged into positions to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support reels, means to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the reel supporting units at a filling position, means to supply empty reels to a loading position, and means to cause relative movement of the centers adjacent the loading position to cause them to enter the hubs of the reels singly disposed at that position.

8. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel support the reels, means to rotate the support interporting units mounted at spaced positions on the 1.1, support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably suppbrt the reels; power means for each unit energizable to rotate one of the centers to rotate its reel, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with their reels in a filling position, and means to energiz'e the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position.

9. In a continuous tak'e' up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, power means for each unit ener= giz'able to rotate one of the centers to rotate its reel, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with their reels in a filling position, means to energize the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position, and means to energize the rotating means for the support when the reel at the loading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate the support one step.

10. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel sup porting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, power means for each unit cher gizable to rotate one of the centers to rotate its reel, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with their reels in a filling position, means to energize the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position, means to energize the rotating means for the support when the reel at the leading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate the support one step, and means to cut the strand, and means to continue energiz'ation of the power means for the filled reel beyond the filling position to cause winding of the trailing end 'o-f the strand. on the filled reel.

11. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, '9. support mounted on an axis, reel sup porting units mounted at spaced positions onthe support and having pairs of centers adapted 'to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, power means for each unit energiz able to 'drive its reel, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with their reels in a "filling position, means to distribute a strand on the reels when located at the filling position, means to ehergizz'e the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position, means to energize the rotating means for the support when the reel at the loading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate support one step, means to cut the strand, and means to connect the new leading end of the strand to the rota-ting empty reel moved into the filling position. 7

p 12. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, r el supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, power means for each unit energizable to drive its reel to wind a strand thereon, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with 12 their heels in a filling position, means to energize the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position, means to distribute the strand on the reel, means means to energize the rotating means for the support when the reel at the loading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate the support one step, means to out the strand, and means to grip the new leading end of the strand and wrap it about the rotating empty reel moved into the filling position.

13. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatably support the reels, power means for each unit ener gizable to drive its reel and wind a strand thereon, means energizable to rotate the support intermittently to successively locate the units with their reels in a filling position, means to energize the power means prior to and during the location of each unit with its reel in the filling position, means to distribute the strand on the reel, means to energize the rotating means for the support when the reel at the loading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate the support one step, and means to cut the strand, means to continue energ-i'zation of the power means for the filled reel beyond the filling position to cause winding of the trailing end of the strand on the filled reel, a ramp disposed at an unloading posi tion, and means to cause relative movement of the centers at the unloading position to free the filled reels for rolling movement down the un loading ramp.

1'4. In a continuous take-up apparatus for a strand, a support mounted on an axis, reel supporting units mounted at spaced positions on the support and having pairs of centers adapted to engage the hubs of the reels and rotatahly support the reels, power meahs 'ior each unit energiza-ble to drive its reel, means energize-ole to rotate the support intermittently to successively to'oate the units with their reels in a filling position, means to energize the power means prior to and during the location "of each unit with its reel in the filling position, means to distribute the strand on the reel, means to energize the rotating means for' the support when the reel at the loading position is approximately filled with the strand to rotate the support one step, means to cut the strand, means to continue enerigization of the power means for the filled reel beyond the filling position to cause winding of the trailing end of the strand on the filled reel, a ramp disposed at an unloading position, means 'to cause relative movement of the centers at the unloading position to tree the filled reels for movement downthe unloading ramp, indicating means, and means energizable to operate the indicating means should a filled reel fail to be freed at the nn-loading position.

WILLIAM T. HICKS. DANIEL V. WATERS.

References Cited the file of this "patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

